Browns’ defensive starter just earned a big check from Cleveland thanks to his breakout season

The Browns just extended one of their own and it makes a lot of sense why.

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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The Cleveland Browns’ success this season has centered around their rookie class and the defensive side of the football. Cleveland has a clear identity in 2025: a very bad offense paired with a very good defense that keeps them in games most weeks.

Myles Garrett has been unleashed this season, recording 15 sacks through 10 games. Garrett is thriving in part because of the players around him too — this is the best supporting cast he’s had during his time in Cleveland. The Browns have now extended the contract of his running mate, and deservedly so.

Browns extending DE Alex Wright made too much sense

First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns have extended DE Alex Wright on a three-year, $33 million deal. Wright was in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract and is playing the best football of his career. With Wright set to hit free agency after the season, Cleveland solved a future problem early by locking up their former draft pick.

Wright, a third-round pick by the Browns in the 2022 NFL Draft, is finally putting it all together. He has 24 tackles and three sacks through nine games this season. The 6-foot-5 defensive end is already an elite run defender, and his pass-rush ability has taken a major step forward. Wright had five sacks in 2023 as a depth piece and flashed his potential, but injuries wiped out 13 games of his 2024 season. He has bounced back just as the Browns hoped in 2025.

The Browns rotate Wright and Isaiah McGuire opposite Garrett at times, but Wright has been the better player this season. McGuire is only in his third year, so Cleveland has him under contract through at least 2026. Extending Wright through the 2028 season at his current price tag has the potential to be a steal if he stays healthy and continues to grow as a pass rusher. According to Pro Football Focus, Wright’s 88.7 grade ranks No. 8 among 117 qualifying pass rushers.

Cleveland saw enough from Wright through the team’s first 10 games to believe he needed to stick around. Next up for the Browns is the Las Vegas Raiders, marking Wright’s first game since signing his new deal — one where he’ll surely be looking to leave his mark.

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